The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-22
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.
The System Of Government In Force In
the Great Dual Monarchy.

The System of Government In Force In |
the Great Dual Monarchy.
Of the two great empires which are
now confronting each other with con-
slant threat of war in Eastern Europe,
much is known about Russia, and but
little in this country about Austria
Hungary. Yet both tina history and
the present condition of Austria-Hun.
gary are full of deep interest for those
whose tastes lead them to enjoy the
study of nations and political systems
AS the very name implies, Austria-Hun-
gary is dual monarchy; that is, two
monarchies combined into one by
common tie. There is only one other
monarchy of the sort in the world, that
of Sweden and Norway, which two
countries are still more distinct from
each other than are Austria and Hun.
gary, for they have no common govern
ment whatever.
Austria, that part of the Empire
which lies west of the River Leitha, and
Hungary, which lies east of that river,
form each a kingdom entirely by itself.
The chief tie between them is the fact
that the same person is the sovereign
of both. The Emperor of Austria is
also King of Hungary, and is crowned
both at Vienna, the Austrian capital,
and also at Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian
capital. But otherwise each Kingdom
has its separate Parliament, and its own
Cabinet, or Ministry. Each makes its
own laws, imposes and collects its own
taxes, and manages its own pub
lie affairs. In each kingdom, too,
the Cabinet is responsible to the two
bodies which constitute the national
legislature There is, however, an ar
rangement by which the two Kingdoms
act in concert as one Empire, in regard
to all matters of political moment COM
mon to them both. This arrangement
consists of a body which is called the
delegations" The Delegations are
composed of sixty delegates from each
kingdom, chosen by the Parliaments,
who meet every year alternately at the
two capitals, and deliberate upon sub
jects of Imperial concern. Those sub
jects are foreign affairs, finance and
military administration. Correspond
ing to the Delegations, and responsible
to them, is an Imperial Cabinet, which
comprises only three Ministers. The
first of these Ministers is at the head of
the department of foreign affairs. The
other two Ministers hold the portfolios
of war and finance. The power of the
Imperial Government, as such, is con-
fined, therefore, to diplomatic relations
with other powers, the management Of
the army and the conduct of wars, and
the financial measures needed for these
departments,
Austria-Hungary was for many cen
turtles despotism as hard and as abso.
lutte as is that of Russia to-day. But
twenty years ago, as result of its over
whelming defeat by the Prussians, il
became a constitutional monarchy. The
Emperor ceased to be absolute; Minis
ters were made responsible to the rep
resentatives of the people; and the PEG
pie were admitted to a very large share
in the control of the Government. A.
a result of this happy change the Aus
trian peoples were accorded liberty O
speech and conscience, free press
freedom of marriage and education
a widely extended suffrage. An entire
lynew career was opened to them a
one of the great nations of Europe
Composed as the empire is, of man,
different, jealous, antagonistic races, o
which the Germans, Magyars, Czech
+ and Slavs are the chief, the task q
holding them together as one natioI
has been difficult. But the attainment
: ofpolitical freedom by these people ha
lessened the difficulty. The Empero
was never so secure of his dominion
, when he was an absolute despot rs h
has been since he gave up large poi
l ton of his power, and shared it wit
his subjects. The Acknowledgements
Empire may not be long-lasting; bu
: tits certain that it would have fallen t
pieces long ago if despotism had nc
t been abandoned, and if free constitl
K ton had not been granted. Youth
!. Companion.